Credit ratings have nothing to do with how Financial committee members are appointed.
Kind Regards, Scott Clary 617-968-5769 Sent from a mobile device - please excuse typos and errors On Sun, Jun 8, 2025, 8:57 PM Louis Zipes <[email protected]> wrote: > One comment I would make is that Bob wrote in support the of the citizen's > petition that 'The Town *usually* has a contested race for Select Board, > and candidates differentiate themselves based on their views and policy > preferences' > > Actually, if I'm reading this history of Select Board races (see link > below) over the last 20 years, that were actually contested, then a better > word would be *rarely. * > > https://www.lincolntown.org/501/Election-Result-History > > Also, note that Carlisle, which the petitioners mentioned as an example of > where the Finance Committee is chosen by the Select board, actually has a > lower bond rating than Lincoln. Admittedly different rating agencies but I > believe that AA1 is lower than AA+ in S&P's rating whereas Lincoln has > been AAA, the highest, in Moody's ratings since 2009. Carlisle has not been > able to crack that top rating nut according to this link: > > > https://dls-gw.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdpage.aspx?rdreport=dls_bond_ratings > (Choose > the different rating agencies to see Carlisle versus Lincoln) > > > > > > > > > On Sun, Jun 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM Robert Domnitz <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Margaret, AI can be unreliable. One needs to go back to the source >> documents. Carlisle is one of the towns that we looked at. According to >> the Carlisle official town website, the Select Board chooses FinCom, not >> the Moderator as cited in your table. The table may contain outdated >> information. See https://carlislema.gov/1161/Finance-Committee. We >> haven't looked at the other towns in your table. Regards, Bob >> Finance Committee | Carlisle, MA >> <https://carlislema.gov/1161/Finance-Committee> >> The Finance Committee was established under Article 17 of the warrant for >> the annual town meeting held February 13, 1933, and further amended under >> Article 19 of the warrant for the annual town meeting held March 10, 1969. >> 3.9.2 There shall be a Finance Committee which shall consider all fiscal >> questions and may consider municipal questions at their discretion for the >> purpose of making reports ... >> carlislema.gov >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* Margaret Olson <[email protected]> >> *Sent:* Sunday, June 8, 2025 12:49 PM >> *To:* Robert Domnitz <[email protected]> >> *Cc:* Lincoln Talk <[email protected]> >> *Subject:* Re: [LincolnTalk] Citizens' Petition at the Special Town >> Meeting: Finance Committee Appointments >> >> I asked Claude, an AI, how the Massachusetts towns close in size to >> Lincoln select their Finance Committee members. >> >> *Towns Close in Size to Lincoln (*population 6,996 based on the 2024 >> census >> <https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lincolntownmiddlesexcountymassachusetts/PST045224> >> *)* >> >> *Finance Committee Selection Methods* >> >> *Town* >> >> *Population* >> >> *Finance Committee Selection Method* >> >> *Shirley* >> >> ~6,851 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Berkley* >> >> ~6,822 >> >> Appointed by Select Board >> >> *Harvard* >> >> ~6,900 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Berlin* >> >> ~6,700 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Boylston* >> >> ~7,100 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Sherborn* >> >> ~7,400 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Stow* >> >> ~7,200 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Dunstable* >> >> ~7,200 >> >> Appointed by Select Board >> >> *Boxford* >> >> ~7,800 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Mendon* >> >> ~6,100 >> >> Appointed by Select Board >> >> *Bolton* >> >> ~5,800 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Boxborough* >> >> ~6,000 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Carlisle* >> >> ~5,900 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Dover* >> >> ~6,200 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Hamilton* >> >> ~7,600 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Plympton* >> >> ~6,300 >> >> Elected by Town Meeting >> >> *Petersham* >> >> ~6,500 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Hardwick* >> >> ~6,400 >> >> Appointed by Select Board >> >> *Ayer* >> >> ~8,100 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Norwell* >> >> ~7,900 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Westford* >> >> ~8,200 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> *Lancaster* >> >> ~8,100 >> >> Appointed by Town Moderator >> >> Margaret >> >> >> On Sun, Jun 8, 2025 at 12:01 PM Robert Domnitz <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> Several weeks ago, 130 residents signed a Citizens' Petition asking that >> our Special Town Meeting consider an amendment to the General Bylaws of the >> Town. If adopted, the amendment would grant authority to the Select Board >> to appoint the members of the Town's Finance Committee. That authority is >> currently held by the Town Moderator. >> The Finance Committee (FinCom) is one of Lincoln's most important >> volunteer committees. Its work is complex and its analysis and >> recommendations have a decisive impact on town operations and residents' >> taxes. Despite its importance, FinCom receives limited direct engagement >> from residents. >> As signatures were gathered for the Petition, the vast majority of >> residents said they did not know how the members of FinCom were chosen. >> They thought that the Moderator's role was limited to presiding over Town >> Meeting. No one could recall a contested election for the position of >> Moderator, and no one could recall that a Moderator had ever expressed a >> viewpoint on Town finances or FinCom appointments. >> The disconnect between FinCom and residents has been compounded by the >> current practice of relying on FinCom to screen potential candidates for >> membership. Vacant positions have not been advertised, and public >> interviews have not been held. >> If endorsed by Town Meeting, the Citizens' Petition will make the Select >> Board the appointing authority for FinCom. Residents look to the Select >> Board for overall management of the Town. It seems natural that they ought >> to be the authority that appoints FinCom. The Town usually has a contested >> race for Select Board, and candidates differentiate themselves based on >> their views and policy preferences. That process helps align our Select >> Board with residents. Adoption of this amendment will empower the Select >> Board to solicit and publicly interview volunteers for FinCom, following >> the same public process they use for other committees that they appoint. >> Appointment by the Select Board will therefore create a clear link between >> residents and FinCom. >> Although many Massachusetts towns continue the tradition of a >> moderator-appointed finance committee, the trend is toward other methods of >> appointment. A substantial minority of towns now rely on appointment by >> Select Boards, direct election by residents, or appointment by a committee >> composed of various town officials. >> By considering this amendment, the Town has an opportunity to strengthen >> transparency, accountability, and resident engagement in a vital part of >> our local government. Embracing best practices that encourage diverse >> perspectives and open public participation will not only enhance the >> Finance Committee’s effectiveness but also foster greater trust and >> collaboration within our community. Together, we can ensure that Lincoln’s >> financial decisions reflect the voices and values of all its residents, >> building a stronger, more inclusive future for our Town. >> Bob Domnitz, on behalf of the Petitioners >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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